Bombyx Processionea

T. F. Allen - Encyclopaedia of Pure Materia Medica · Timothy Field Allen · 2,126 chars

General

An insect belonging to the class Lepidoptera.

Common name , Procession moth (common in Europe, on oak trees). [Avenues in the Bois de Boulogne are sometimes closed, to protect the public from the irritation of the skin that the hairs of this caterpillar cause.] Preparation , Tincture of the live caterpillars.

Authorities. 1 , Calmeil, N. Journ. de Med., vol. 9, effects of disturbing a nest; 2 , Galignani's Messenger (Pharm. J., 22, 136), a boy shook from a tree an immense number of the caterpillars into his naked breast.

Eyes

Painful swelling of the lids, [1] .

Lachrymation, [1] .

Stomach And Extremities.

Nausea, [1] . In the morning, swelling of the hands and finger-joints, [1] .

Skin

Skin covered with large red spots, which were soon followed by a general swelling, [2] .

Dr.

C. preserved a nest of the caterpillars in a large glass vial, which was not opened for ten years.

At length it was opened in the presence of several persons, all of whom caught the eruption, [1] .

If a nest of the insects is touched or stirred up, persons within reach of the emanations arising therefrom will be attacked with a papulous eruption, more or less confluent which will last several days and be attended with violent itching, [1] .

The arms are covered with hard, large, uneven, areola-formed tubercles, with a red areola, so thick as to leave hardly any space between, [1] .

Eruption of a wonderful number of linear-formed tubercles over the whole arm, and even over the chest and abdomen; most marked near all the joints, [1] . [10.] Sensation as if a foreign body were under the skin, [1] .

Itching of whole body, [1] .

A severe itching sensation, so that he was compelled to run home for assistance, [2] .

Itching, evenings, not relieved by anything, [1] . Itching of both hands, increasing to a pain, [1] .

Sleep And Dreams.

Frequent waking, nights, [1] .

Dreams that the arm is being cauterized, and arrows thrust into the muscles, [1] .

Fever

Burning heat; great desire to scrape the skin, [1] . Violent heat of arms and face, [1] .

Fever, somnolency, and delirium, followed by death, [2] .